You know the feeling. Labor Day has come and gone, the kids are off to school, and you’re starting to think (yet again!) about all those clever ways to update your home’s décor. But where to start without tackling a major project?

One of the most overlooked places to easily but dramatically make a change is right there in front of you. It’s there regardless of where you are in the house. Every room has at least one of them. Think WALL S! But think beyond paint color or wallpaper. Think of what’s displayed on your walls. Your artwork.

Cherished photographs.

Perhaps some family or sports memorabilia. A recognition of some sort. A poem written by your child that’s loosely taped to the wall. Then there are all those things you’ve been meaning to display, but they’re tucked away in the attic, wrinkled up in a closet, or gathering mildew in the basement. Give them NE W life!

A variation on this theme comes about when, over the years, you’ve redecorated, renovated, built an addition, or changed your style and preferences. All too often, your wall décor goes right back up without much regard for how it could be better integrated with the vision and investment you made for the major changes. Here are some general tips that may be helpful in getting the most from your decorated wall space:

Determine which newer (or older) pieces mean the most to you, considering moving them to a different room, and retire those that have lost appeal.

For art and other framed items, consider having them updated with new frames and/or mats. You’d be amazed at what’s available nowadays! In fact, fashion trends apply to the framing industry too…with annual introductions of trendy colors, finishes, and styles.

Gather up photos that “matter” and have them framed as an integrated montage. Consider mirrors. Interesting frames, as well as your room, may benefit from converting less appealing art into a mirror that adds unique vitality. You might even find an empty frame in the attic that would be terrific to recycle as a mirror.

And mirrors are great…even small ones…as decorative elements in hallways, along staircases, and in places where you wouldn’t likely hang a picture. Odd-sized mirrors can be quite interesting, such as a mirror that’s very long or very tall rather than a proportioned rectangle.

Fabrics often qualify as art. Only your imagination will limit what you can do with fabrics that are framed or stretched (like a canvas). It’s inexpensive, adds texture, and is easy to coordinate (or change) with various styles or colors.

Ceramics make great art, too! For example, Sarah Holl (Art Space, 46 Pearl St, Hyannis) does amazing puzzle-like dimensional ceramics that function well as stand-alone art, or even customized for unique applications like backsplashes in kitchens.

When hanging art, don’t let a man do it alone! Men tend to hang artwork much too high on the wall. A good rule of thumb is to place the center of the art just slightly higher than the eye-level height of an “average” person. (An “average” height is about five-and-a-half inches).

Artwork and photos don’t have to be hung at all. A popular trend is to lean framed items of various sizes on top of a wall-mounted “floating shelf,” or on a mantel.

Don’t feel “obligated” to hang everything you own that’s “hangable.” Do what museums and galleries do: rotate your collection from time to time, carefully storing pieces temporarily until you feel the need to make a few substitutions.

Consider accent lighting. Low-voltage or recessed lamps add drama and function when used to highlight artwork of most any size. Special picture framing lights (that mount just above the artwork) are available in endless sizes, finishes, and styles…including some that are battery operated.

Do groupings! Large wall spaces…such as over a sofa, or in rooms with high ceilings, are great candidates for grouping multiple framed items of different sizes together…even if they are not related in color or theme. One way to design the layout is to simply place the pieces on the floor to experiment with placement before moving the items to the wall. The goal is “balanced diversity.” Multiple-piece displays can also be effective when the tops or bottoms of various sized frames are aligned with each other…especially with contemporary pieces.

The other option…never to be overlooked… is the purchase of art! Set aside a day to go gallery hopping. You’ll always get ideas, and maybe something that fits your budget and your décor. The Cape Cod Art Association in Cumaquid, the Cotuit Center for the Arts, the Cahoon Museum of American Art, also in Cotuit, and Yankee Accent in Osterville are among the many fine art destinations worth a visit. And it’s always stimulating to look for work by emerging artists who offer great talent at modest prices. Have fun!

John Miller is the owner of the J MILLER GALLERY and J MILLER, PICTUREFRAMER, both located at Deer Crossing Marketplace, Route 28, Mashpee. Mr. Miller is an active, national award-winning member of the Professional Picture Framers Association.